Cash totalizing counter



Sept. 26, 1967 D. NEUSTADT E AL 3,343,554

CASH TOTALIZING COUNTER Filed Dec. 2, 1965 (NVENTORJ AV/0 Eu: 7,41: 1

THOMAS msuone M J ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,343,554 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 3,343,554 CASH TOTALIZING COUNTER David Neustadt, Long Beach, and Thomas lyiigliore, New York, N.Y., assignors to Automatic Components, Inc., Piainview, N.Y.

Filed Dec. 2, 1965, Ser. N 511,161 2 Claims. (Cl. 1338} Our invention relates to counting mechanisms in general, and in particular to a totalizing counter for adding the sum of all the coins collected in coin operated machines.

These devices are generally of two types.

The first of these, an escrow type machine, such as cigarette mechandiser, a food vender, or a general purpose vender, collects all the coins deposited in a central collecting box, called an escrow box. The value of the coins deposited is computed by a separate device. If the proper amount has been collected, to match the sale price, a selection can be made, the coins collected into a cash box, and the credit canceled. Where after coins have been deposited, no sale is made, the customer has the option of having his coins returned, and the credits are also canceled. In this case, the value of the coins deposited can not be counted, but rather of the merchandise actually delivered.

In a non-escrow type vender, the customer does not have the option of having his coins returned, but must make a selection. Therefore a coin count gives a true sum of the amount of cash deposited in the machine. Such a machine would be represented by a juke box, an amusement device, or a coffee vender. All such machines have an integral device which separates the deposited coins by denomination, checks for coin validity, and registers the collection either by electrical or mechanical means. At the same time, use of this information is made by this device for the running addition of the total amount deposited. For a nonvending application, a separate coin validator, coin denomination switch, and electrical or mechanical impulse has to be generated.

Known devices generally in use at the present time employ motor drive mechanisms and are of complicated construction. These devices are difiicult to service and repair in addition to being expensive.

Accordingly, the object of our invention is to provide a device of the above character which will furnish a visual check of the total amount deposited in such a machine, while giving the exact amount of the collection by a subtraction of the amounts shown between collections, thus tending to diminish minor pilferage on the part of collection personnel and to make accounting controls for each machine easier to maintain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described, which can be used to count the totals of a plurality of coins of various denominations, as well as an escrow device, to count a plurality of sale prices.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device which is simple in construction, easy to service and repair, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cash totalizing counter according to the invention and FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of the mechanism shown inFIG. 1.

As shown in the drawing, the mechanism comprises a series of standard counting wheels on which is displayed visually the total count of the sum deposited. In addition to the visual display a printed record can be made by using raised characters on the wheel and employing a hand actuated printer.

The wheels reading from right to left are: a 5 wheel 1, having a 5-0-5-0 etc. pattern on each of its 10 character faces, a 10 wheel 2, with a standard digit pattern of 10 characters from O to 9, and then a series of dollar wheels 3, with a standard digit pattern of 10 characters from 0 to 9. The number of dollar wheels will depend on the total amount it is desired to added up. For example, with four dollar wheels, a total of $9,999.95 can be added. The deposit of one more nickel will bring the register back to 0000.00, which can be understood to be a total of $10,000.00.

The nickel wheel is driven by a ratchet and pawl mechanism 4, actuated by a solenoid 5. The solenoid is impulsed by a coin switch triggered by the action of a coin dropping across its wire actuator, after validation. The initial register for the nickel drum is set at one of the zeroes, of which any of the five on the wheel face can be used. As the solenoid is impulsed, the pawl ratchets the drum one step, or 36 degrees, as there are 10 steps on the drum to complete one revolution. After one step, the character 5 appears in the viewing window. Upon acceptance of the second nickel, the wheel is rotated one more step. This brings a 0 back into the viewing window. However, a Geneva drive 6, on the left side of the wheel indexes the 10 wheel one step. One step of 36 degrees of the 10 drum, brings a 1 into the viewing window, since a zero was also the character displayed at initial register. Thus a total of 10 would be displayed after the deposit of two nickels.

A third nickel being deposited would actuate the 5 drum one more step, bringing the second 5 into viewing position. Thus 15 would be displayed. Collection of a fourth nickel would bring the second zero into view. But the second of five Geneva Stop slots on left of the 5 Wheel would again index the 10 wheel by one step, or a 2 would come into view, thus showing a total collection of 20. These steps can be repeated continually, for a running addition of nickel deposits.

The 10 wheel 2 can be stepped by the Geneva action of the 5 wheel. The Geneva gear drives the inner drum part 7, of the 10 wheel, on which no characters are displayed. Characters are displayed on an outer drum, which can be driven by the inner drum through a slip clutch mechanism (not shown). Driving of the inner drum by the 5 Geneva drive, also rotates the outer drum through the slip clutch. Or it may be considered that the outer drum follows the exact rotation produced by the 5 Wheel.

Extending to the left of the 10 wheel are two 10 tooth spur gears. The first gear 8 is on the Geneva gear shaft and is used to actuate the $1 wheel after each complete revolution of the 10 drum. If 19 nickels have been collected, then will be displayed in the window. The collection of one more nickel steps the nickel wheel to zero, the nickel Geneva gear steps the 10 wheel one step to zero, and the 10 Geneva step the $1 drum to one, signifying a total collection of $1.00. The second gear 9 is attached firmly to the outer, or face drum, of the 10 wheel, and is axial with the shaft supporting all the count wheels.

This long spur gear of ten teeth 9, can be actuated by a series of toothed pinions. A one step action of pinion 10 would rotate the outer 10 wheel 36 degrees, representing a 10 count. A two step action of pinion 11, would rotate the gear by two teeth, or 72 degrees, representing a 20 count. A five step action'of pinion 12 Q Would rotate the gear by five teeth, or 180 degrees, representing a 50 count. Since the outer drum of the 10 wheel is being driven, the internal clutch would slip, producing no upset of the count on the wheel.

To drive this plurality of toothed, axially aligned, pinions there is provided a plurality of electrically driven solenoids. The one step solenoid is attached electrically to the dime coin switch of the machine, the two step solenoid to the quarter coin switch, and the five step to the half dollar coin switch.

Connecting the quarter coin switch to the two step solenoid has so far produced only a 20 step on the wheel. So an auxiliary actuation is used to step the 5 wheel by one step, after the quarter solenoid has completed its full stroke. This auxiliary action can be mechanical, through a linkage latched by the action of the quarter solenoid plunger as it is pulled in. Spring action returning the plunger to the rest position, can be used to actuate the linkage of the pawl mechanism on the So drum. Electrically, a switch 13, actuated by the quarter solenoid plunger at the end of its stroke, can be used to impulse the nickel solenoid 5. In either case, the action of the nickel solenoid, would add the final required St, to the 20 already imparted by the two-step pinion.

Since most sales go no higher than 75, a 27 tooth pinion is envisioned. If in the future, sales move up higher than this upper limit, the driving pinion can be changed. So for example a 36 tooth pinion would produce a register $1.05. Due to the larger pitch diameter of the 36 tooth pinion, the pinion shaft would simply have to be spaced further from the driven gear shaft.

Each pinion is divided into three 120 degree sectors. Each sector has 7 teeth, and the two teeth between alternate sectors are actually blank spaces without teeth. The 10 pinion 10 would have only three teeth in toto, and 24 blank spaces. Similarly, the quarter pinion 10 would have six teeth, and three sections of seven blank spaces each separating the 3 sets of 2 teeth each, while the half dollar pinion 12 would be so constructed as to have alternate spacing of 5 teeth and 4 blank spaces.

The diametral pitch of the pinions and the gear would have to be identical. Tooth shape of the gear is a standard spur gear, of either 14 /2 or 20 degree pressure angle. In order to avoid tooth interference, and mis-counting due to too long a tooth contact, the pinion teeth have to be modified somewhat. Most of the addendum is eliminated, leaving only .008" for a 32 pitch pinion. The shortened addendum gets the tooth out of the contact area very quickly, so that a true count can be realized. The need for this can be seen very readily with a simple layout.

The neutral position for the actuating teeth on the pinion is with the leading tooth in each sector just ready to enter the contact area with the gear. At rest there is no contact of the gear 9 with any of the pinion teeth 10, 11, 12. This allows the gear, and the 10 drum to rotate freely, without being locked in. Therefore, if the 10 wheel is stepped by the 5 Geneva gear because a nickel has been accepted, it can do so freely. Similarly the gear can be stepped by any of the pinions as its corresponding coin is collected. Having the teeth on the pinions ready to engage the gear, allows for rapid disengagement of the pinion teeth during the pull-in stroke of the solenoid plunger. Thus a second coin, being accepted immediately after the first has a been accepted, will add up properly. A solenoid plunger does not have to return immediately as the second plunger will start a true count even with the first plunger still in the fully energized position. High speed action of the plungers is still important, however, to allow two coins of the same denomination to be deposited one after the other. But at least jamming, and false counting, will be held to a bare, acceptable minimum.

Each pinion is rotated 120 degrees by its associated solenoid through a simple ratchet mechanism. This allows for simplicity of solenoid design, since all pinion solenoids d have the same length of stroke. It also allows for manufacturing economies, since the ratchet parts are identical for all pinions. All adjustments are eliminated, making servicing simpler for even an inexperienced service mechanic.

A three-toothed star wheel 14, is rigidly attached to both sides of the toothed pinion, or molded into place, as the case may be, according to the method of manufacture. On one side of the pinion, the star wheel engages a detent 15, which positions and indexes the teeth ready to come into contact with the gear. It also prevents reverse rotation of the pinion, as the actuating pawl returns to its starting position. Light spring action keeps the detent pressed against the star wheel.

The actuating pawl 16, is mounted on a pivot post, atfixed rigidly to a reciprocating link 17. This reciprocating, rotating link rotates axially on a bearing affixed to the pinion shaft 18. A second pivot post, rigidly afiixed to the link, but mounted closer to the pinion shaft, can reciprocate in a slot in an actuating lever 19. A longer slot in the lever, normal to the short one, slides on the same bearing that the link rotates about. The lever is coupled to the actuating solenoid, and is spring loaded to return to its start position.

In operation, the solenoid is energized by a coin switch. As the plunger pulls in, it pulls the lever along with it for a full stroke. The smaller slot in the lever acts as a cam surface on the link post. The link being pulled down by the lever rotates about the pinion shaft. Due to the length of the pull, the link rotates slightly more than degrees, slightly more than 60 degrees above a center line, and slightly more than 60 degrees below a center line. While it rotates, the pivot post on the link reciprocates in the smaller slot in the lever. The limits are reached outwardly while it lies on the center line, and inwardly while it lies on the 60 degree positions. Rotation of the link also rotates the pawl the same amount. The pawl is spring loaded to allow the tooth to remain in continuous contact with the star wheel. But action of the detent constrains the star wheel to a 120-degree travel after the pawl has started its return motion. The slight overtravel of the link and pawl on the return stroke assures positive contact with the next tooth on the star wheel.

A spring loaded detent on the gear provides positive indeXing, and at the same time prohibits overcoating, with its resulting mis-counting. Positive alignment between pinion and gear stop positions is very important for accurate and trouble-free operation of the device. The gear can be quite long, depending upon the number of coins required to be added, although three solenoidpinion combinations would tend to be standard. The length of the 10 Geneva gear would also depend on the number of pinions, since it must bridge this gap.

For escrow type machines, almost all driving would be primarily through the gear. The sale price of the individual item would be picked off a coin totalizer, standard in such equipment. On a vend, a pulse would be transmitted through this pick-off point to a solenoid on the cash totalizer. A solenoid-pinion combination would have to be provided for each different sale price. Three is standard, but five is coming more and more into common usage.

So for example, a 15, 35, and 45 sale priced vende'r would have the following pinion arrangement; a one toothed pinion on the 15 solenoid, with a linkage back to the 5 drum; the 35 solenoid would have a three toothed pinion, with a linkage back to the 5 (1: wheel; and the 45 solenoid would have a 4 tooth wheel, with a linkage back to the 5 drum. On some venders an auxiliary relay or stepper system might have to be used as a memory unit. This would only be necessary where a pulse could not be picked off the machine totalizer during a vend. Spare Wheels could also be provided to enable change in coin addition if a sale price is changed. The

maximum teeth would be left on the pinion during fabrication, and they could be removed as needed, during a price change.

We claim:

1. A totalizing counter, comprising display means having a first drum with characters displayed thereon, a gear element rotatable with said drum, pinions operable to engage and drive said gear element, said pinions being divided into sectors each having a section with gear teeth adapted to mesh with said gear element and another section blank adapted to be free of the gear element, individual actuating means for rotating each of said pinions a sector at a time in response to the dropping of a coin, whereby each pinion rotates the main gear element and said first drum predetermined amounts and is thereafter disengaged from the gear element, each of said actuating means being operable in response to the dropping of a particular denomination coin, each sector of a particular pinion having a given number of gear teeth proportional to the denomination of the coin to be received by the actuating means for said pinion, each of said actuating means comprising a solenoid operable in response to the drop of a coin, and a mechanical connection between the solenoid and its pinion to rotate the latter an amount dependent on the number of sectors in each pinion, said mechanical connection comprising a crank arm actuated by said solenoid, a pawl mounted on said crank arm, and

a star Wheel on said pinion engaged by said pawl, for rotating the pinion.

2. A totalizing counter according to claim 1, wherein said first drum displays tenths digits, said display means further comprising a second drum displaying less than tenth digits, a separate actuator for rotating said second drum in response to the dropping of a coin which is of less value than that represented by the tenths digit, an operable connection between said first and second drums to rotate said first drum a digit at a time when the second drum rotates an amount corresponding to the dropping of a plurality of coins amounting to that represented by a tenths digit, said operable connection including slip clutch to permit rotation in one direction of said first drum and the gear element independently of said second drum.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,799,784 4/1931 Donnellan 133-8 2,209,703 7/ 1940 Mettler 194 2,995,229 8/1961 West 194 3,202,256 8/1965 Jensen 194-15 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Examiner. 

1. A TOTALIZING COUNTER, COMPRISING DISPLAY MEANS HAVING A FIRST DRUM WITH CHARACTERS DISPLAYED THEREON, A GEAR ELEMENT ROTATABLE WITH SAID DRUM, PINIONS OPERABLE TO ENGAGE AND DRIVE SAID GEAR ELEMENT, SAID PINIONS BEING DIVIDED INTO SECTORS EACH HAVING A SECTION WITH GEAR TEETH ADAPTED TO MESH WITH SAID GEAR ELEMENT AND ANOTHER SECTION BLANK ADAPTED TO BE FREE OF THE GEAR ELEMENT, INDIVIDUAL ACTUATING MEANS FOR ROTATING EACH OF SAID PINIONS A SECTOR AT A TIME IN RESPONSE TO THE DROPPING OF A COIN, WHEREBY EACH PINION ROTATES THE MAIN GEAR ELEMENT AND SAID FIRST DRUM PREDETERMINED AMOUNTS AND IS THEREAFTER DISENGAGED FROM THE GEAR ELEMENT, EACH OF SAID ACTUATING MEANS BEING OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO THE DROPPING OF A PARTICULAR DENOMINATION COIN, EACH SECTOR OF A PARTICULAR PINION HAVING A GIVEN NUMBER OF GEAR TEETH PROPORTIONAL TO THE DENOMINATION OF THE COIN TO BE RECEIVED BY THE ACTUATING MEANS FOR SAID PINION, EACH OF SAID ACTUATING MEANS COMPRISING A SOLENOID OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO THE DROP OF A COIN, AND A MECHANICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SOLENOID AND ITS PINION TO ROTATE THE LATTER AN AMOUNT DEPENDENT ON THE NUMBER OF SECTORS IN EACH PINION, SAID MECHANICAL CONNECTION COMPRISING A CRANK ARM ACUATED BY SAID SOLENOID, A PAWL MOUNTED ON SAID CRANK ARM, AND A STAR WHEEL ON SAID PINION ENGAGED BY SAID PAWL, FOR ROTATING THE PINION. 